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THE 



HYDRAULIC PRINCIPLE 

OF 

LEANSING FABRICS^ 



J. I^OIBZEn^STS- 



U':^ 



// 



A ^ 



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In placing lliis puniplilct in the hands uf the public it devolves upon me to make 
a few explanatory remarks, which shall be as brief as possible. Having from boy- 
hood been educated, theoretically and practically, in the Art of Bleaching and extract- 
ing from linen and other fibrous materials, the natural vegetable matter, and acquired 
discoloration; also being a practical mechanic, and having a special knowledge of 
the of extensive laundries and their machinery; 1 feel competent to judge the merits ot 
all devices and principles used for such purposes. 

Upon first introducing to the public one of the devices known as \\ ashboiler 
h'ountains, I was cognizant of the fact that the principle was correct; having years 
before used it in the Bleachery — on a mammoth scale — in what is known as a 
"boiling keer;" into which was placed from 6,000 to 10,000 yards 01 goods at a time. 
This was done to remove the vegetable matter befokk entering the chemical solu- 
tions, and .AFTERWARDS, to remove all trace of the chemicals; which would otherwise 
destroy the goods. 

What at first seemed strange to me — knowning what could be accom- 
plished with steam antl boilng fluids, without the slighesl injury to the most delicate 
fabrics — was the deep-rooted predjudice of housekeepers, against all innovations upon 
the old method of doing the family washing; to make matters worse, many similar 
devices had already been offered for sale; but all had failed. Why? was a problem 
which did not take long to solve. I investigated; and soon discovered to my utter as- 
tonishment, that neither .sellers, manufacturers, nor inventers, knew how to use the 
articles themselves; much less teach others. 1 found that the erroneous idea of 
cleansing by stearsrfilone; prevailed in all minds: That i.s, they used but a small quan- 
tity of water in the boiler, and a great deal of soap; converting it all into steam 
and lather. What was the result? They rotted and discolored the clothes, and peo- 
ple threw them aside in disgust. I saw at once that the public must necessarily be 
INSTRUCTED in the ART OF CI.EANINO FAKRICS— a herculean task — but had I aban- 
doned it, as others had before me, Wash-boiler Fountains w-ould now be among the 
things of the past. Instead, like wringers and Sewing Machines, they are becoming 
a household necessity. In my eight years experience with these washers I have dis- 
coved many difficulties. 

The point upon w'hich I have labored the hardest of all, has been to produce a 
superior washer at the same or less cost. I have succeeded beyond my most sanguine 
expectations; and the result, is the Perfect Washer. In it, I believe I have left nothing 
to be accomplished. The pamphlet will speak for itself: That it has been successful, 
is asserted by the fact that upwards of one hundred thousanij of these washers 
have been sold by it alone. Believing that the public will not fail to appreciate the 
situation. I am Respectfully, 

(^ I. BOBEKTS. 

/ 
i / 



\ 



PLILOSOPHY 

OF THE 

ROBERTS PERFECT WASHER, 

iiLi-:. mil. \ v; expl 1 1. \ 'ed 

and 

I) rEsrio. \ 's . I, \ 's wehej). 



It is important at the start, to recognize liie fact that there is 
really an art in the cleansing of fabrics. There are few — even among 
those who make it a business — who caii readily explain the principle 
upon which they do th- cleansing. The numeroi^s mechanical con- 
trivances have all failed; they either do not cleanse . or they wear out 
the clothes faster than the rubbing board; and it is harder work to 
operate them than to do the rubbing. Again they consume entirely 
ihe time of a person during the whole operation. 

By adopting the hydraulic principle of washing as embodied in 
the Roberts Perfect Washer, you can wash quis-kly, thoroughl}'-, with- 
out labor, and avoid entirely, all wear and tear; and at the same time 
be at liberty to do other work about the house. The fire will do both 
the washing and baking, at one and the same time. 

I wish to impress upon your minds that mechanical devices must 
keep the clothes in motion to force w ater through them. By the 
hydraulic principle, the clothes remain intact, while the water is kept 
in motion and forced through them. Ask 

WHAT DOES THE CLEANSING, 
and invaribly \ our answer will be, " plenty of rubbing," well so it is: 
you rub on the soap, then rub it well in to soften the dirt: then you dip 
and rub and rub and d-p, io force water through the fabric, to carr)^ 
away the dirt, after being softened by the soap. Now please bear in 
mind that 





i;i,KA(;iiJ.\(i. 

Much is saitl yet little understDod alxnit llic term "bleaching." 
As used by the housewife ii simply implies thorough cleansing. Ask 
whv she boils her clothe , and her answer will be : "To bleach them: " 
properly speaking she -hould say, "To cleanse them;" she has not 
stopped to consider that the simple operation 01 slightly scalding— Un 
she cannot boil them -takes out the dirt and d scoloration which 
hours of" laborious rubbing on the washboard has failed to rt-move, 
vet such is the fact. 

Now, trv the hydraulic principli: of cleansing for ten or fifteen 
minutes, upon a boiler tuli of clothes, which you iiave almo.st exhausted 
yourself in rubbing; a'ter taking them out,examine the suds, and you will 
be astounded at the result; rinse and hang them beside others washed 
the old way, and see the 'bleaching'' they hive undergone, and yet 
they have not been bleached, 'Mily cleaus-d. Ti-.ose goods were white 
as. snow when yuu purchased them; made so by a professional bleacher: 
few ot whom there are in the United States. 

The proper application of t'le term bleacir.ng implies the art of 
extracting vegetable matter or other natural di.-,coloration from textile 
fabrxs. The process of bleaching requires constant care and watcli- 
fulnes.s. A single moment lost may destroy everything. You wi 1 see 
t lie force of the■^e remarks when the process is det:iiled. 

To illustrate we wiil take linen, the most difficult of all fibres to 
bleach. The g-^ods to be bleached are first subjected to the boiling 
procesi — where the hydraulic piinciple is used on a large scale — in a 
strong alkaline solution, this continues from six to eight hours, accord- 
ing to the texture of the- goods. Out of this they are thoroughly 
rinsed, first through warm and then cold w. ter. They then pass into 
a solulion of chloride of lime: which process is also carried on at a 
high temperature in order to expand \\i<i. fabric, so that the inside as 
well as the outside can be bleached; here the goods are kept in motion 
mechanically, at lejr-t once in ten to fifteen minutes; this admits of 
atmospheric action upon the goods; without which in some form, 
nothing can be either cleansed, bleached or dyed. At the proper time 
they are taken from this rinsed through cold water, and again bailed 
in good soap and water to extract all traces of bleaching matt. r. 
From this they pass into a solution of sulphuric acid, in which they re- 
main several hours; when taken out they are well rinsed, and ;igain put 
through the boiling process in good soap and \Y^iter; fro)n this they are 
well rinsed again ai\d come out as white as sriow, ready to finish for 
the market. ' 

Can those goods again absorb and fix all their natural discolora- 
tions? No, impossible. Then why do they become vellow and 
discolored? There are various reasons: first, poor soap and hard 
water; second, careless or incompetent washer-women; third, lack of 
strength to do the rubbing. 

But the chief reason is — and this little p.imphlet has been im- 
pressing upon your mind all the way through, th;it you cannot use 
water by hand, which is hot enough to soften and expand the fabric to 
that extent which is absolutely necessary, to thoioughly t^xtract the dirt 
and discoloration. 



7 

A combin;itioii dI' boiling water, good soap and a rapid circula- 
tion or water force, is what is required to thoroughly cleanse (not 
"bleach" ) your clothes. A second process of bleaching would ruin them. 

The Roberts Perfect Washer will clease them every time. Try it 
and you will never regret the trifling outlay. 



The foregoing furnishes as lucid an explanation as possible, of 
tiie hydraulic principle of cleansing fabrics, also of the functions of 
the Roberts Perfect Washer. Yet, the following are anticipated : 

QTJESTIOISrS. 

f^. Can you wash flannels? 

A. \'es but bear in mind, very little soap should be used in washini; flannels. 
Woolens are fulled and felted by the application of soap in a machine known as a 
falling mill ; in which they arc continously pounded till they are as firm and heavy as 
required. Flannels become thick and hard by the use of too much soap, and improper 
handling. To wash them properly, they should be kept at a high temperature from 
lirst to last. Sudden changes from hot to cold water, contracts the fibre and causes 
them to shrink : An)- Fuller of woolens will tell you this. F"lannels never should 
be wrung. Wringing acts to a certain extent like the Fulling Mill ; and when con- 
tinued from time to time, makes them hard. They should be hung up directly out 
of the water, and in a warm place. If you would always have your flannels soft and 
beautiful, adopt the following rule, viz : use but Utile soap. W'ash and i-insc in hot 
water. Do not wring them. Dry in a warm atmosphere. 

(^). Will this process destroy colors? 

.\. 1' ugiti\e prints will part with their colors by this or any other process : but 
li.xed colors will not only be uninjured, but benefited by it. Colors are originally set 
by a process of boiling : and by this process of washing they are thoroitghly cleansed; 
which makes them look bright and new. If you have any calicos — with fixed colors 
—which are old and dingy just try this process. The result will astonish you. This 
must always be borne in mind when washing calicos never use strong soap or alkalies. 
,\cid forms the base of many prints, and other colored fabrics, and is frequently de- 
stroyed by the use of alkaHes : This releases the colors. Flnglish Scarlets — the most 
dural)le colors known — -will never fade when properly washed, nor even in the sun, 
hut are frequently ruined by srR<JNG soaps. 

Q. What causes a scum to rise on the water when the soap is put in ? 

A. A chemical change has taken place a saline condition of the water kills the 
alkalie in the soap and releases the fatty substance which rises to the surface. You 
cannot wash with hard water by any known process. You must add either borax or 
Sal-soda till you overcome the natural condition of the water (make it perfectly soft) 
then put in the soap, not before. Always use rain water when it can be had. 

[It is not to be wondered at that people are incredulous at the first sight of the 
washer, when we consider the innumerable expensive and cumbersome devices, which 
have proved worthless : and they naturally ask:] 

Q. How can such a thing wash clothes ? 

\. Several years ago a gentleman writing to me about this principle .said "I must 
own that when I saw the*vasher I was utterly incredulous as to its cleansing powers: 
my lamily were still more so. In fact they had no faith in washers of any kind ; but 
being strongly urged by a friend who had used one successfully, I concluded to trv 
one. We made the first trial with a good many misgivings. In fact / could not see 
how so simple a thing could wash clothing. I^ut when I saw the water pouring from 
the discharge pipe at the rate of eight or ten gallons per minute, and when I re- 
flected that THIS A.MOUNT OK WATER must PASS THROUGH THE CLOTHES TWENTY 

OR THIRTY TIMES in the course of an ordinay wash, my doubts began to give way. 
[ saw there was both philosophy and common sense in the principle, and that it was 
impossible for it NOT to prove effective. I am now a firm believer in it and trust it 
will find the place it deserves in every household." 

The alwve facts are worthy a place in the minds of all housekeepers, whether 
ihrv adopt the hvdraulic principle or not. 



\()L'MAV IU-: INDUCED TO 1N\ KS'l" SI ..">« FOR TIIK CKf,K15RATKD 

ROBERTS PERFECT WASHER. 

It is ihc bcsL washer in llic wuild. So acknow Icd^^'cil liy all who ha\(.- used or 
seen ii. li does away with the Kllbbi lift' KoUIMl. saves limo and wear and 
tear of clothes, cleanses thoroughly, ami bloSK'lli'M |>*'rr«'Oll.V. Will work in 
anv kind of boiler or the old-fashioned wash-pot. 

THE ORIGIN.AL l'.\fENT 
of the liKOAl) 1'RINCII'LE embodied in this washer bears date Nov. 19, 1864. 
The improvements cover an entirely new principle of developing force at the bottom 
of a washboiler, and are pronounced by the I'nited Slates Patent Office, after a con- 
tinuous examination of nearly one year, unlike anything e\ er before shown. Every 
claim was therefore allowed. Specifications filed .\pril i, iSSo, and patent granted 
Feb, 15, iS8t. 

The inventor is undoubtedly the best informed man on this subject to be found. 
Being a PROFESSIONAL BLEACIUiR, and skilled mechanic, and having had 
experience in handling every known device for cleansing purposes used in laundries. 
He has spent the last eight years in manufacturing, selling, and improving the HY- 
DRAULIC PRLN'CH'LES of washers ; also in educating the people up to the use of 
this principle, and has D1SC0VF:RED and SURMOUNTED all the difficulties met 
with in other devices. Therefore he feels competent to judge, and stands ready to 
meet upon>these grounds all who may present themselves. This company is regularly 
incorporated under the state laws of New York. We have jnirchased the patent, and 

OUR TERRITORY 
IS OPEN. WE WANT ACTIVE, ENERGETIC AGENTS BY THE HUN- 
DRED, to whom we will secure territory by certificate. We can offer inducements 
such as have never been given to agents heretofore by any concern on this Continent. 
We employ skilled mechanics, and manufacture all of our own goods, and shall 
be constantly producing new inventions for household use, several of which we now 
have in different stages of perfection, and which will be covered by Patents. 

AGENTS 
are frequently prevented from selling goods because their terms are made public. 
Some people do not consider the labors of an agent, and try to beat down the fixed 
price of an artice, deferring from time to time the purchase thereof, thus increa.sing 
the labor and cost of selling. Consequently 

OUR TERMS TO AGENTS 
will be considered strictly private, and sent only to those ordering a TRIAL W.VSII- 

ER. ' ' ,r, 

This W^asher has never been sold for less than $3. Bui bear in mind we have 
COME INTO THE FIFT.D TO STAY and do business, and will send a 

TRIAL WASHER 

PREP.MD to any pa.it of these Unitefl Slates on receipt of 

ONLY its 1.50. ♦ 

It will save you that the fnst (lay's work you do with it. Who would be without 
one? 

OUR REFERENCES 
are good goods, promptly filled orders, and the New \'ork County .National Bank of 
this city. 

CASH MUST ACCOMPANY ALL (JRDERS. 
Remit by Post Office money order, registered letter or draft on New \'ork. Write 
your own address plainly to the 

KOBRRTN .fl-F'O €0., 
41 H A' 420 Wo«t 27tli St.. ]Vow York Vity. 
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